Special Ed — Youngest in Charge

Edward "Special Ed" Archer was born in Brooklyn, raised in Flatbush before moving to Canarsie. There, he starts to work with Howie Tee on his demo. In the late eighties Special Ed signs with Profile and begins to create his debut studio album at 17-years-old, entirely produced by Howie Tee.

Shaquille O'Neal — You Can't Stop the Reign

In November 1996, a few months after joining the Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal releases two rap albums, the first is a compilation of songs taken from his two previous CDs — inside there are Fu-Schnickens, RZA, Method Man, Erick Sermon & Redman, Keith Murray, Def Jef, Ill Al Skratch and Phife Dawg, with a cover that recalls the Vampeta of the best times —, the following week he releases his third LP.

 

Fat Joe — The Darkside III [mixtape]

After the first chapter of Darkside, Fat Joe begins working on a new studio album, then stops and begins to release only singles, among which "Another Round" featuring Chris Brown, that brings again Joey Crack in the top ten of rnb singles after a decade, "Pride N Joy" with Kanye West, Jadakiss, Mos Def and Busta Rhymes, among others, "Instagram That Hoe", "Yellow Tape", "Ballin'" and "Love Me Long Time". In 2013, Cartagena closes his series with the third mixtape. The effort is produced by Streetrunner, Cool & Dre, Sap, iLLA, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder, Diamond D and Young Hype. The guests are Dre, Action Bronson and Nick Shades.

M.C. Pooh — Life of a Criminal

Debut album for Lawrence "MC Pooh" Thomas, from Oakland, Cali. The production is provided by Ant Banks, which chooses light and accessible, simple and minimal funky rhythms, with some proto-g-funk synths to support the rapper's syncopated, slow, determined and irregular delivery. The album, coherent and accessible, differs from those of the main city performer for its lyrics mostly based on gangsta themes, drugs, violence and with some misogynistic shots: MC Pooh drops bars with a good smoothness flow on vibrant and fresh beats, carving out some dope tracks ("Explicit Lyrics", "Oakland", "Life of a Criminal") and a good replay value. 7/10.

JVC Force — Force Field

Solid sophomore by JVC Force who come out strong from the debut and deliver a noteworthy LP for the year 1990. The group combines a simple and essential production, made with minimal, tight, skinny and raw beats, fresh rhythms and good samples, with a smooth and honest delivery that manages to elevate the songs. The album doesn't skimp on some technical gaps: a flow that starts to become monotonous, lazy deliveries and unsuccessful crossover cuts like the weak reggae of "Matik-A-Matik". From the second half of the album, the group raises the bar and pulls out some good shots thanks to excellent and crackling jazzy beats, samples soulful, guessed hooks, and a properly delivery. 7/10.

Hi-C — Skanless

Crawford "Hi-C" Wilkerson made his debut in the game in 1991, releasing his album as an independent and finding a distribution agreement with Elektra. A native of New Orleans, he settles in that of Compton and here he approaches several of the major artists in circulation.

Fat Joe — The Darkside Vol. 2 [mixtape]

After the success of the first volume, Fat Joe decides to complete a Darkside trilogy. However, along the way, he turns his second installment into a very low-budget mixtape. Entirely produced by Mark Henry, the tape presents French Montana, Dre, Jadakiss, Arland and Shallah Raewkon as guests.

Ice-T — Power

Following the success of his previous album, the rapper took part in the movie soundtrack of "Colors" (1988). Having understood that he had become popular among the public, the artist decided to improve and implement his lyricism by writing more serious and conscious lyrics. The production was once again entrusted to Afrika Islam, while the guests were Donald D, a friend of Afrika Islam, and Hen-Gee, brother of DJ Evil-E in whose house the album was entirely recorded.

Silver Bullet — Bring Down the Walls No Limit Squad Returns

Richard Brown is Silver Bullet on his debut album. Ten tracks, almost fifty-five minutes, far too many: there's an excess of long tracks — half goes well beyond six minutes, is exaggerated — in which the rapper pulls out braggadocio bars with a hardcore style on skinny and frenetic rhythms. The album says almost nothing, nor do the two singles that pulled him out of London: "Bring Forth the Guillotine" and "20 Seconds to Comply", released for the London electronic music label Tam Tam Records, are commercially successful in the British dance-core scene and the boy has the opportunity to sign an agreement with the Parlophone (EMI side) to release his first LP. There's an ultra-fast delivery on insipidly frenetic and skinny rhythms, musically it's decent, not beyond. After a couple of tours in the USA with Ultramagnetic MC's and Public Enemy his career is over. 5/10.

Too $hort — Get In Where You Fit In

Eighth album in Too Short's career. The Oakland veteran becomes one of the artists with the largest discography in hip-hop and even in this case he doesn't change his formula: funky rhythms 'n pimping lyrics.

The Real Roxanne — The Real Roxanne

In 1984, UTFO come up with a song that concerns a girl they didn't like, such as Roxanne, and put it as the b-side of the single "Hanging Out". This single fades into the background, while "Roxanne, Roxanne", the b-side, gains considerable popularity.

Schoolly D — How a Black Man Feels

Schoolly D reaches his fifth album in six years, while most veterans have never surpassed the second and not to mention that these albums often go from bad to very bad. The guy who put Philly on the map doesn't seem to fall even on his umpteenth record: of course, he's irregular, skinny, rough, repeats practically the same themes already addressed in his previous efforts, but here he's still hardcore and powerful, he performs at his best ever. Schoolly switches from Jive to Capitol Records, but sales don't increase despite the quality of the LP. He offers some political, pro-black and even gangsta cuts, spitted on a good simple and minimal funky production made by the same rapper using different layered samples: thanks to this technique, he extracts from the cylinder the best song of the disc, "King of New York", storytelling that describes the life of a drug dealer with an excellent hardcore delivery syncopated on a dark and hard rhythm vitalized by a dozen samples including Public Enemy, NWA, George Clinton, Commodores, but above all "Sucker MC's".

Rating: 6.5/10.

Yo-Yo — Black Pearl

Sophomore for Yolanda "Yo-Yo" Whitaker, NWA collaborator and affiliate. The girl hasn't made too much progress since her debut: her lyrics are positive and discreet, she doesn't exaggerate, and almost limits herself to her homework, despite her cuts against misogyny, pro-black and pro-women are to be appreciated.

J.J. Fad — Not Just a Fad

JJ Fad gets a big hit and then Eazy-E takes the market by storm with Ruthless and the group NWA. Two years after their debut, the group JJ Fad is ready to put a brand new LP on the shelves. Dr. Dre should be behind the keyboards for this new pop rap album, instead he decides to postpone the sessions and the group doesn't wait for him, having with them the other main producer of NWA, DJ Yella, who shares the production duties with Arabian Prince.

J.J. Fad — Supersonic

Around 1985, a girl rap group was formed in Rialto, California. The group consisted of five members, Juana "MC J.B." Burns, Juanita "Crazy J" Lee, Fatima "O.G. Rocker" Shaheed, Anna "Lady Anna" Cash and Diana "Baby-D" Birks, whose initials make up the group's acronym, JJ Fad. After getting a contract with Dream Team Records, in late 1987, the girls released their only single together, "Anotha Ho". The song has "Supersonic" as a b-side, produced by Arabian Prince.

Chill Rob G — Ride the Rhythm

Debut album of one of the many forgotten rappers of the eighties. The unknown Robert "Chill Rob G" Frazier arrives from Jersey City, New Jersey, and delivers a pretty solid and coherent album, which should be considered as worthy of the '89 underdog hip-hop products.

Pro the Leader — Aspirational Regret

Pro the Leader's eighth album, fifth solo, the first with this moniker and above all the first solo in fourteen years. Skarekrow produces the album entirely, leaving two beats to St. Louis. The guests are Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, Crisis of Black Knights, Christ Bearer of Northstar, Skarekrow of Da Monstar Mob, C-Rayz Walz of Almighty, Ras Kass of The Four Horsemen, Nova-Kane and Casual, the main guest of the project.

Yo-Yo — Make Way for the Motherlode

Debut album for Yolanda "Yo-Yo" Whitaker (affiliated with Da Lench Mob and protégé of Ice Cube): the girl offers lyrics in which she often complains about men or boasts of her talents by delivering bars with a hardcore and syncopated, but fluid style, on a production of Ice Cube and Sir Jinx which has excessive elements, often ending up overwhelming and obscuring the delivery of the rapper. There are some guests and Ice Cube spits a few lines in a couple of tracks, in any case it's the duo's funky, skinny and minimal West Coast beats that drag the whole project, irregular, but which in general offers positive themes and tries to give value to the female figure. 6/10.

Ice-T — Rhyme Pays

Tracy Lauren Marrow was born in Newark, New Jersey, son of Solomon and Alice Marrow, both died of heart attacks while he was young after the family moved to Summit, New Jersey. Marrow then went to live with his uncles in Los Angeles, where through the music he listened to from a cousin, he began to become passionate about heavy metal.

Da Lench Mob — Planet of da Apes

Sophomore jinx for Lench Mob, a group that has changed their lineup several times, now composed of the same trio that made the debut album, T-Bone, Shorty and J-Dee: the latter ends up in prison for murder, and is replaced by Maulkie, from the duo Yomo & Maulkee, signed by Ruthless Records, who in 1991 released an LP. The title of the disk is another homage to a movie, this time to "Planet of the Apes" (1968).

MC Solaar — Prose combat

After the success of his debut album, MC Solaar embarks on a long tour in Poland and Russia and at the end of 1992 continues the tour throughout West Africa, to then work also with Guru the following year for his historic debut solo album "Jazzmatazz Vol. 1". The collaboration between the rapper of Chadian origins and half of Gang Starr marks a historic first for a French rapper, who is also appreciated in the United States and whose track ("Le bien, le mal") is considered among the best of the disk. Subsequently, the artist begins to work on his second album, which keeps his producer DJ Jimmy Jay, flanked by Boom Bass and Zdar behind the keyboards. The guests are Ménélik, Soon-E Mc, Sages poètes de la rue, Derin Young and Bambi Cruz.

Spice 1 — 1990-Sick

Fourth album in four years for Texas-native rapper Spice 1, first as a fugitive, I guess. Production is provided by Blackjack, Chase, Bosko, Payback, and Ant Banks, combined with live instrumentation performed by Stan Man and David Brown on bass, Stan Man, JC and Tim Fox on guitar, Mark Cross, Ant Banks, Blackjack, Bosko, Chase, Payback, Grant Nicholas and Lionel Cole on keyboards. Guests are MC Eiht, G-Nut, E-40 and Young KYOZ, as well as Kokane, Ant Banks, Gruve, Joya, Audra Cunningham and Rick Cousins. Spice, an acronym for Sex, Pistols, Indo, Cash and Entertainment, finds the energy of the beginnings and his new album starts strong with the title track.

A.D.O.R. — The Concrete

First studio album by Eddie "A.D.O.R." Castellanos, a rapper born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, raised in Mount Vernon, son of a professional musician. At school he meets those who will be known as Al B. Sure, Heavy D, Puff Daddy and Pete Rock. Passionate about hip-hop, he takes the moniker A.D.O.R. (an acronym that can take either the meaning of Another Dimension of Rhythm or A Declaration Of Revolution).

Da Lench Mob — Guerrillas in tha Mist

Debut album for Los Angeles hip-hop group Da Lench Mob, formed by rapper DeSean "J-Dee" Cooper, who major duties in rapping, Jerome "Shorty" Washington, second MC, and by Terry "T-Bone" Gray, providing improvisation and hooks in a role similar to that of Flavor Flav in Public Enemy.

Prostyle — The Hip Hop Depression Vol. 2

Black Stone of Mecca in 2024 releases this sequel to the only official album of the duo Prostyle formed by Pro the Leader and Dopestyle. The production is done by Primemusic, Dopestyle and Shaggy Manatee. The guests are Humanbeings, Shaggy Manatee, Rubbabandz, Opio of Souls of Mischief, and Nova-Kane.

Above the Law — Time Will Reveal

Tommy Boy releases the fourth album of Above the Law, with guests such as Kokane, Daddy Cool, Enuff, MC Ren and Frost. The production is credited to Cold 187um and Above the Law, along with Julio G, Tony G. Michael Sims plays live bass and guitar.

Prostyle — Hip Hop Depression

In 2010, West Coast underground rappers Pro the Leader and Chester "MC Dopestyle" Smith release a collaborative album under the duo name Prostyle. Half of the album was produced by Prime Music, with the rest of the set featuring beats from Life Rexall, PNS, Shaggy Manatee, Gneticz, Gifted Glitch, Dig Dug, and X-P. The album is heavy on guest contributions. The Holocaust aka Warcloud of Black Knights is the main guest on the album. He's joined by Cappadonna of Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, Timbo King of Royal Fam, M-Eighty of Almighty, Opio of Souls of Mischief, Fes Taylor of The Housegang, Phil Anastasia, Atlantis Scrolls, Nova-Kane, Mic Moses, Zion I, Weapon X of Mysterious, C-Rayz Walz, and Casual.

Too $hort — Shorty the Pimp

"Shorty the Pimp" is Oakland veteran Todd Shaw's seventh effort. At the time, he was the only one who could boast so many albums in his discography among hip-hop artists and even has some platinum certifications from the RIAA.

Dana Dane — Dana Dane with Fame

Dana "Dana Dane" McCleese was born in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from high school, in which he becomes part of Kangol Crew, a rap group with his classmate Slick Rick, to whom Dana Dane sounded deeply similar, he starts a solo career signing with Profile Records in 1985. In the same season, the rapper drops his debut single, "Nightmare". After other singles ("Delancey Street", "Cinderfella Dana Dane", "Dana Dane with Fame"), all ended up in the R&B singles chart together with the first one, he publishes his debut studio album.

Ice Cube — Lethal Injection

Fourth studio album in three years for Ice Cube, one of the greatest rappers of the nineties and one of the best MCs between 1988 and 1991: counting the first album with NWA, up to that point, no one has dropped three classic albums in such a short amount of time, including two solo in under eighteen months, and no one will be able to do it again for a long, long time. In the same year that the East Coast regains hip-hop leadership, with his fourth effort, Ice Cube finally falls and undergoes the lethal injection of his career.

T.H.U.G. Angelz — R.I.P. Thug Angelz

In 2015, Hell Razah hadn't yet fully recovered from the aneurysm that struck him five years earlier. At the time, the Brooklyn artist was coming off the best albums of his artistic career, released in 2007, and in 2008 he had released a collaborative album with his childhood friend Shabazz the Disciple, a solid project. Despite being childhood friends who grew up together in their neighborhood, for many years they took different artistic directions, meeting again only in the mid-2000s: in this period the duo T.H.U.G. Angelz was born with the desire to form a talented duo that could remain in the memory of the Wu, both also motivated by a common hatred for those who they believed had stolen and taken away their fame, money and success. Some outside the Wu, but others within the borders of Shaolin.

Spice 1 — AmeriKKKa's Nightmare

The third studio album in three years of Spice 1 isn't as good as the previous ones: the Texan MC comes from a solid debut and a classic record, and to fully delve into the new musical trend of the West Coast, he decides to rely on the rhythms from different producers.

Too $hort — Born to Mack

Todd "Too $hort" Shaw was born and raised in Los Angeles, then in 1980 he moved with his family to Oakland, where he became a drummer in a school band. In the mid-eighties, together with his friend Freddy B, the boy produced custom songs on cassette for people in Oakland and the Bay Area.